Theater review: Visit Pennsylvania Playhouse's 'The Foreigner'

Steven Schmid as Charlie Baker (left) with James Vivian as Owen Musser in 'The Foreigner' at the Pennsylvania Playhouse in Bethlehem through Sunday.

Steven Schmid as Charlie Baker (left) with James Vivian as Owen Musser in 'The Foreigner' at the Pennsylvania Playhouse in Bethlehem through Sunday. (CHRIS SHIPLEY, SPECIAL TO THE MORNING CALL)

Dave HowellSpecial to The Morning Call

“The Foreigner” provides a fun and absorbing two and a half hours.

"The Foreigner" by Larry Shue is a comedy, but it also becomes a bit of a thriller towards the end of the second act. It is not laugh a minute entertainment, as it relies more on plot and characterization than gag lines. But it provides a fun and absorbing two and a half hours, especially in the fine production currently running at Pennsylvania Playhouse, directed by Gary Boyer.

It begins with Staff Sergeant "Froggy" LeSeuer (Fred Broadbent) and Charlie Baker (Steven Schmid) visiting a resort in rural Georgia. Froggy has brought them here for Charlie to forget about his dying wife. He admits his spouse has cheated on him more than 20 times, so his love seems to be unrequited.

Charlie does not want to be disturbed during his visit, but the presence of the loquacious Betty (Rhonda Manis), who owns the resort, makes that seem impossible.

Froggy comes up with the idea to tell everyone that Charlie is a foreigner who does not speak a word of English. Charlie objects, but due to a conversation he overhears, he has to keep up the pretense. He talks in some gibberish that is supposed to be his native language.

He discovers that another visitor, Catherine (Kate Eggings) is pregnant by her fiance David (Jeremy Thompson). Charlie also finds out that the seemingly nice David is marrying Catherine for her money, and is scheming with redneck racist Owen (Jim Vivian) to buy and take over the lodge.

Charlie, who feels he is dull and boring, quickly forms friendships with Betty, Catherine and Catherine's slow-witted brother Ellard (Thomas W Rush). Ellard gains a sense of self-worth as he "teaches" Charlie to speak English.

Later, the four have to team up as they face an armed group that attempts to capture and remove Charlie.

All seven characters are expertly portrayed, broad enough to be funny but not so much that they become unrealistic. They make the play so absorbing, you can forget how outlandish the situations are.

Schmid adroitly handles both his English accent and the nonsense language. The Southern accents are believable too, bringing the lodge residents to life.

The unlikely bond between Charlie, the women, and Ellard is the heart of the story, which comes off perfectly. And Thompson and Vivian work well as villains, respectively slimy and brutal while still leaving an opening for humor.

"The Foreigner" has been a favorite of community theater since it was first presented in 1984. If you have not seen it yet, now is the time to visit.